3 Important Things To Know About Assault And Battery
Key Points of this Article
- There is a difference between assault and battery
- Either can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony
- This crime carries severe consequences
A Common Crime
Often on the news can be heard the phrase “assault and battery”, which seems like it is one action or even that one is interchangeable from the other. Neither of these assumptions is correct. Assault and battery are two separate and distinct actions. The one thing they both have in common is that they are punishable by law.
What are Assault and Battery?
Assault is the act involving not necessarily physical interaction but verbal threats, violent gestures, or presentation of a firearm or other weapon. Battery requires physical interaction in a threatening or violent way, but does not necessarily mean that injury occurred. If injury does occur then that would be considered aggravated battery.
Misdemeanor Or Felony?
This all depends on the circumstances. The severity, who the victim is, and how the prosecution chooses to charge you all will play a role in the determination. Regardless, either charge of any degree is a serious legal matter and one that can hold severe consequences for the rest of your life.
What Are The Consequences?
Being accused of a crime of this nature alone can have negative effects on your life. It can cause those around you to view you in a different, usually negative way. If actually convicted, it will follow you for years and potentially ruin your chances of employment, and on top of that you then face jail time as well as other possible penalties. If a child, pregnant woman, or the elderly are involved it can be expected that the punishment will be harsh. You will need immediate legal assistance from a reputable criminal defense lawyer.
When Results Matter, Call Kemp Law of Tampa Bay
For your legal questions, connect with a Tampa Bay assault and battery attorney. The attorneys at Kemp Law handle several areas of criminal defense law, including those related to DUI, Traffic Offenses, Domestic Violence, Theft, Drug Offenses, Probation Violation, and Juvenile Offenses. We believe you should only have to focus on living your life, while we worry about using the justice system to protect your rights. We give our clients the best possible results-driven service. No upfront fees.
Call us at (727) 788-6792 or submit a contact form for a Free Consultation.
